Friday, January 20, 2012

Jennifer Hudson's Family Murders: A Trial Date Is Set

Three and a half years after Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were killed, the man accused in their deaths will finally stand trial.

According to E! Online, Cook County Judge Charles Burns announced Thursday (January 19) that jury selection for William Balfour's trial would begin April 9 and that testimony in the trial is expected to begin on April 23.

Balfour is the estranged husband of Hudson's sister, Julia, and is suspected of killing Darnell Hudson Donerson, 57; Jason Hudson, 29; and Julian King, 7, on October 24, 2008. He was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of murder, aggravated kidnapping and home invasion and has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys argue that there is no forensic evidence linking Balfour to the killings and that he was the "convenient" suspect.

The prosecution has said Balfour was jealous that Julia Hudson was dating another man and went to the house to confront her. His mother, Michele Davis Balfour, has argued that her son was dating three other women at the time and that jealousy would not have been an issue.

Hudson kept out of the spotlight in the months following the tragedy, making her first public appearance singing the national anthem at the 2009 Super Bowl, followed by an emotional performance of "You Pulled Me Through" at the Grammys. Hudson has only recently addressed the subject via a series of interviews pegged to the release of her memoir, "I Got This."

"I felt as though I had to [perform]," Hudson told "Dateline" this month. "I could hear my brother's voice in my head, like, 'Is she ever going to sing again?' He'd always say, 'Knock it off, Jenny!' if I was discouraged about something. I could either sit here and mope around, or do what I know would make them proud."

Hudson said part of the reason she has been able to move forward is due to the love and support she's had from family, friends and strangers. "I was literally lifted up by love," Hudson